Hi,

I've been road cycling for the past while but I've decided I want to do some MTB especially for the winter and also for the social aspect.

Anyhoo.. I know very little about MTB and I was wondering if someone could give me general advice or answers to these questions:

Is a circa $500 bike from a reputable manufacturer an ok buy? I already bought a road bike this years and dont want to spend a fortune.

What sort of pedals to MTB cyclists use? like on an everyday bike or clipless like on a road biek ro what?

Is a regular cycling helmet ok, at least for a start? And do people usually wear other protection? We will be riding in forests.

Anything else I should know?

Thanks for any help

BadBreaks